RANKED: The Best Smartphones In The World

Steve Kovach/Business Insider
Unless you really want to wait for the rumored big-screen iPhone 6, now is a great time to buy a smartphone.

In the last few months, both HTC and Samsung launched new flagship phones that are pretty good. And there are plenty of solid older devices that you can buy at a steep discount.

Note: We update this list approximately once a month. Our rankings are based on a variety of factors including design, software and hardware features, content selection, carrier availability, and price. We only consider phones that are on sale in the U.S. at the time of publication. We've listed discounted prices carriers give for signing a contract at the time of publication. You can see April's smartphone rankings here.

#17 LG G Flex

LG released the first-ever curved-screen phone, the G Flex, in the US this year. The G Flex has a large, 6-inch curved screen and a self-healing backing that can repair minor scratches.

Unfortunately, LG had to make a few compromises to get that curved screen on the device. The resolution is a lot lower than it is on Apple and Samsung phones, so images, text, and video look grainy in comparison. LG's user interface for Android is also unattractive and buggy.

#14 iPhone 5C

William Wei, Business Insider

The iPhone 5C, which launched at the same time as the iPhone 5S, is Apple's slightly cheaper model of the iPhone. It has almost all the same specs and features as the iPhone 5 that launched in 2012, but wrapped in a variety of colorful plastic cases. You can get it in blue, pink, green, yellow or white.

#13 HTC One

Reuters/Brendan McDermid

HTC's flagship phone from last year, the One, still holds up very well today. The One is one of the most beautiful smartphones ever made. It also has a nice camera and large, 4.7-inch screen. Now that the new One flagship phone is out, you can get the original at a nice discount on some carriers.

#11 Nokia Lumia 1020

Nokia

Most consider the Nokia Lumia 1020 to be the best Windows phone you can buy. It has one of the best cameras you can get in a smartphone, which is nice if you don't mind the giant bulge it adds to the back.

Other than that, it's mostly the same Windows Phone experience you get on any other device.

#8 LG G2

The G2 is LG's latest flagship phone. It has a gorgeous 5-inch display, one of the best you can get on a smartphone. But it does have one odd design quirk: the power and volume buttons are located on the back of the phone, making it a bit awkward to use at first.

Warning: LG is expected to launch a new flagship later this month. If you like LG phones and can wait a few weeks, you should.

#7 Samsung Galaxy Note 3

AP

Samsung popularized the "phablet" category with the Galaxy Note more than two years ago. Now the phone is in its third generation with the Galaxy Note 3.

The Galaxy Note 3 has the biggest screen yet, 5.7 inches, yet its body is actually thinner and lighter than the last model. It also comes with a special stylus called the S Pen for drawing or taking notes. It's the best phablet you can buy.

#6 Motorola Moto X

Steve Kovach/Business Insider

The Moto X is one of the best Android phones. Motorola added some new features to Android, like the ability to check notifications easily from the home screen and launch the camera app by twisting the phone. But it's still mostly the "clean" version Android from Google.

You can also fully customize the look of your device with a variety of color options for the case and buttons.

#5 Google Nexus 5

Google's latest flagship phone is the Nexus 5, which was made in partnership with LG.

Like all of Google's Nexus devices, the Nexus 5 runs a pure version of Android, meaning you won't find any modifications to the software. It also gets software updates much faster than other Android phones. But perhaps the best part is the value. You can get the Nexus 5 unlocked for about half the price as other top-tier smartphones.

Price: $349 unlocked from Google. Works on AT&T, T-Mobile, and several other international carriers.

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#4 Samsung Galaxy S5

Steve Kovach/Business Insider

Samsung's newest flagship phone, the Galaxy S5, is a nice improvement over last year's phone. Instead of weighing the device down with a bunch of unnecessary features, Samsung focused on improving the stuff people care about the most. The Galaxy S5 has the best screen (5.1 inches) ever made for a smartphone. The camera is really good, too.

But if you don't like phones made out of plastic, you should probably look for something else.

#3 HTC One (M8)

Steve Kovach/Business Insider

HTC's latest flagship phone, the HTC One (M8), is the best Android phone you can buy.

Like the original, the new HTC One, which is also called the M8, has a gorgeous design and high-quality metal construction. It also has an extra rear camera that acts as a depth sensor so you can edit photos later and change the focus.

#2 HTC One (M8) Google Edition

Google

HTC partnered with Google to create a version of the HTC One (M8) that runs a clean version of Android. That means you don't get any of the extras that come with the regular version you buy through carriers. You also get software updates directly from Google shortly after they're ready.

If you want a great phone with the best possible Android experience, this is the device to buy.

Price: $699 unlocked from Google. Works on AT&T, T-Mobile, and several other international carriers.

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#1 iPhone 5S

William Wei, Business Insider

For most people, the iPhone 5S is the best smartphone available.

It strikes the perfect balance of great design, useful features, and app and content selection. The iPhone 5S looks nearly identical to last year's iPhone 5, but sports a better camera and a fingerprint sensor for unlocking the phone without a passcode.